Middle English Dictionary Entry
abortī̆f, -īve adj. & n.
Entry Info
| Forms | abortī̆f, -īve adj. & n. Also aborcife. |
| Etymology | L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Born prematurely or dead; (b) as noun: a child born prematurely or dead, a stillbirth; also fig.; (c) one who is born deformed, a monster.
Associated quotations
a
- a1450 *Diseases Women(1) (Dc 37)11a : With suche puttynge þe secundynne myght brek & so þe Chylde be abortyffe and stroyde for euyr.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)2 : Abortyve: Abortiuus.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Job 3.16 : Or as abortif [L abortivum] hid I shulde not abide, or that conceyued seȝen not liȝt.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22849 : Þe childir þat es abortiues, Þaa þat er not born oliues, Sal rise in thritte winter eild.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)1 Cor.15.8 : At þe laste..as to abortyue, he is seen to me.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)82b : Make a tentur of woll and wete hit in that lecour and put hit in womanys shappe and hit castith oute abortife.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)2 : Abortyve: Abortus.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)185/12 : I am the leste of you alle that Crist haþ lokyd to as to an abortyfe.
c
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)244 : Fy on his pilche! He is but abortijf, eked wiþ cloutes! He holdeþ his ordynaunce wiþe hores and þeues.
2.
Inducing abortion.
Associated quotations
- (1395) Wycl.12 Concl.(Th 17)303 : Sleyng of children or þei ben cristenid, aborcife [?read: abortife: L procuracio aborcii] and stroying of kynde be medicine ben ful sinful.
3.
Parchment made from the skin of a stillborn animal.
Associated quotations
- a1500 Sln.2584 Med.Miscell.(Sln 2584)125/2 : Ȝif þou wilte make letters on abortiue or bortiue, lai þi oile also þynne þeron als þou may.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Ashm.750 Artist.Recipes (Ashm 750) 256/25 : And ȝyf þu wyll mak letter on abratif or abortyf, lay þi zyse als thyn þeron as þu may.
Note: Additional quote, sense 3.
Note: New spelling (abratif, poss. ?error).